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Mike, I really enjoyed seeing your photos of some of my favorite wineries. Thanks for sharing them. Robert

I have both the Italian and the Portugese models. They both work very nicely. The Italian model is taller requiring less bending over. So, it just depends how big is your piggy bank today. Robert

I am very glad to hear about your ALLJuice Montepulciano, I have a six month old kit that has been in a American Oak barrel for about 6 weeks now. Going into the barrel, I was very disappointed in this wine. To me it seemed a very simple, thin, not a lot of flavor wine. My oak barrel is one...

I had just the opposite experience, bought the Buon Vino Auto Filler and could not stop it from leaking. Then bought the Ferrari Auto Bottler and love it. Very easy to use, yes it does leak a little wine when bottling but nothing like the Buon Vino Auto Filler. I have bottled over 20 kits with...

I have made kits that were 18-24 months old with great results. I do try to make any kit within 12 months of manufacture.

Sounds like it could use the same technology that US Elite uses in their 6 gallon kits. They ship a super concentrated juice that you add 18 L of water. I have made several of US Elite kits with great results.

Not a problem at all, if you will notice in several days, the oak chips will have sunk to the bottom of the carboy.

Another vote for using a heat gun. I have used a hair dryer in the past but the heat gun is much faster and better. Just today, I bottled my Mosti Mondiale Meglioli Rojo Grande and used the gold topped shrink caps that are included with the kit. Most of the gold tops fell off, I guess I will...

...a lot more racks. This hobby becomes all consuming. Nice racks, hope you gave your husband a nice hug. Robert

DrJack, Here is another vote for getting a Floor Corker, I have both the Portuguese and the Italian models. They both work great. When I use the Portuguese corker, I place it on my countertop and cork the bottles without bending over. The Italian corker is about 3 inches higher and I place it...

Mike, Last year I bought an Barrel Mill 5 gallon (hold 6 gallons 32 oz) American Oak medium toast and have barrel aged over 8 wines in it. It has lost some of it's oak flavor but now I can leave my wines in the barrel for up to 3 months. The secret of the barrel aging is the micro-oxidation...

Mike, I have a suggestion for you, don't buy another kit until you first buy a 5-6 gallon oak barrel. I can not believe how much better my wine has become since I started using a barrel. I now have 2 barrels, American and Hungarian Oak. Believe me, you will be thanking me a year from now. Robert

Kelley, We were all in your situation once. That what is so great about this forum. Everyone is willing to help you. We are just one big happy family. Welcome aboard. If you have any questions about wine making, just ask. Someone will be able to help you. I have several brew belts and they are...

I think you have found a bargain if it is good condition. That said, I have the Portuguese floor corker and have been very happy with it. Any floor corker is MUCH better then the hand corkers.

If you are going to use bottled water, may I suggest that you use spring water instead of distilled water. Distilled water has ALL the minerals and trace elements removed from the water leaving it with a very sterile taste. Bottled spring water does not contain chlorine but does have the...

I have made 15 Cellar Craft grapeskin kits (both the 5 week and Showcase versions) and I always leave the grapeskins in my primary fermenter for 14 days. I do try to stir the must and grapeskin pack everyday during the 14 day period. After 14 days, the must has turned to wine and it is always...

Pete, I would add the oak cubes now (1-2 oz) and then taste the wine every week. Last year was my first year of winemaking and I added 3-4 oz. of oak cubes to many of my wine kits. I did not check them until 3-4 months later and I now have some very over oaked wines. I also would recommend...

After making 40 kits, I can not detect any differences in kits I made with tap water and those I made with bottled spring water. For some reason, I feel better if I use bottled spring water but I can not say it is any better then the wines I have made from tap water made by Fairfax County...

The RJ Spagnols Winery Series contain 18L of grape juice. See their web page: http://www.rjspagnols.com/en/brands/Cellar+Classic%C2%A0Winery+Series.aspx I have this kit waiting in my basement. I just need a empty primary fermenting bucket. This kit won Best Wine of the Year in the 2009...

I am curious, what Mosti Mondiale kits contain ALLGRAPE packs? I have been to their web site and they do not even mention ALLGRAPE packs with any of the kits. I have made 5 Mosti Mondiale kits, (AllJuice, Masters and Meglioli) and none of them had the grape packs. I ordered a ALLJUICE Petite...